Restoring the Moravian Fire
What is the most amazing prayer story you have ever heard? Whatever it is I can top it. Below is the story of a 110 year prayer vigil that changed the world, and the way churches think about missions. It is unbelievable to me how few people know the story, and it is time Christians tell it again, not so much in word, but in deed. That is on our knees with head bowed, praying for God to send a great revival to our country.
In 1722 a small band of poor Moravians found their way to the land of Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, a rich and pious nobleman of Saxony. He took pity on them and allowed them to settle on his property. They called their little community Herrnhut, which means “The Lord’s Watch.” During Its first five years of existence the Herrnhut settlement showed few signs of spiritual power, but instead argued often with each other. By the beginning of 1727 the community of about three hundred people was wracked by dissension and bickering.
An unlikely site for revival! Things got so intolerable that Count Zinzendorf personally intervened, helping the townspeople draw up “The Brotherly Agreement” which immediately calmed the town down. This occurred on May 12, 1727. To celebrate the peace that came over Herrnhut the people gathered for worship the next day. During their worship service the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon the worshippers, and moved each to have great love for one another. The experience was so powerful they next covenanted to enter into a 24/7 prayer vigil. This prayer vigil lasted for 110 years. Out of this prayer meeting the modern mission movement was born. The following account is just one of the stories that emerged from the hundreds of preachers and thousands of evangelists who spread out all over the world to seek and save the lost.
The Moravians had learned that the secret of loving the souls of men was found in loving the Savior of men. On October 8,1732, a Dutch ship left the Copenhagen harbor bound for the Danish West Indies. On board were the two first Moravian missionaries; John Leonard Dober, a potter, and David Nitschman, a carpenter. Both were skilled speakers and ready to sell themselves into slavery to reach the slaves of the West Indies. As the ship slipped away, they lifted up a cry that would one day become the rallying call for all Moravian missionaries, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering." The Moravian's passion for souls was surpassed only by their passion for the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. (taken from watchword.org, keyword “Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians).
The power of their prayer vigil impacted the world in far reaching ways. Their story is intertwined with the lives and ministries of some of the most important church leaders in the Great Awakenings and revivals that transformed Western society in the eighteenth century including John Wesley, William Carey, and George Whitfield.
How is your prayer life going? Are you praying daily for the community you live in and our country? Is there a group of Christians or churches that are gathering to pray corporately in your community? Can you start such a prayer movement? Remember the words of II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Do you believe God wants to bring healing to our land in our times?
(To find out more about Pastor Earley or LaGrange Presbyterian Church see www.lagrangepres.com).
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